"A woman needs to be told she is beautiful. She needs to be told she is valued. She needs to be told she is worthwhile." --Thomas S. Monson.
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"How nice," Roselle said. "Your Grandma sat us down next to your ex-girlfriend."
Dylan looked at the table, then back at her, sucking in cold air through his teeth. "I'm sure Grandma didn't do it on purpose."
Roselle knew 100% that it was, in fact, done on purpose. "It's still weird that we're going to be sitting next to your ex."
"For the record," Eliot said, "I don't have an ex-girlfriend that I'm still in love with."
Dylan raised a brow at him. "Thank you for updating us on your mental health," he said. His tone was genuine when he said it. There was no ulterior sarcasm behind it. And if there was, it certainly didn't show in the slightest.
In the corner of Roselle's eye, she caught Grandma Scott staring at her, smiling. She raised a glass of wine in her direction, then gulped it down. What a vile, manipulative woman.
"If you'd like, I can ask Grandma to move us somewhere else," said Dylan.
Roselle smacked her lips. "Forget it. Let's just sit down and get this over with."
Roselle, Dylan, Michelle, and Eliot went to their assigned table with Armani and Lily.
"Hey," Lily greeted Michelle, smiling warmly. "How are you?" She threw a dirty look at Roselle, and then returned to giving a warm persona to her sister.
Michelle widened her jaw at the heiress's kindness. She looked over to Roselle who nodded in approval, then back to Lily. "I'm doing fine," she said.
"I hear your business has really been taking off lately. 'The Reyes Sisters Beauty Team' have been the talk of the town."
"Well, it must have been because you let us do your hair and makeup for your engagement. Thanks again so much!"
She smiled. "That's probably why."
"That's not why," Eliot dared to say.
Everyone at the table whipped their head at him.
Lily crossed her arms. "Why then?"
Eliot chuckled. "It's because of Roselle. She's the one that's been in the media so much. She's the one that's been getting all the attention. Michelle too. It didn't really have anything to do with YOU, Lily. You're not the reason the world goes round."
Roselle choked on her glass of water trying not to laugh. Lily sent her bullets with her eyes, but she didn't tell her anything.
"Anyway," Armani said, presumably trying to change the topic. "Your grandmother sure does know how to pick a location." He stared at the ceiling, which was full of chandeliers that had star-shaped ornaments hanging from them. "This place is incredible."
"Grandma Scott always has Thanksgiving here," Dylan said. "It's a bit of a tradition. She only invites family and friends, so it's a big deal that you invited you here, Armani."
The future president beamed. "Well then, I'm honored to be her humble guest."
Grandma Scott clanked her glass, capturing the attention of every single person in the room. "Hello, everyone," she said, extending her arms as if she was hugging the room. "I'm so glad you all could make it here tonight. It's such a privilege to be standing before you tonight, and a bigger privilege to be hosting some of the most important guests in the entire capitol over there at table 48."
The room's attention was now directed to Roselle's table. Roselle turned her head away, but everyone else at the table sat tall, waving at the rest of the room. Even Michelle gave the sup nod as though she was important.
Grandma Scott continued. "At that table we have the most talented make-up artist in the capitol, Michelle Reyes, my grandsons, Canadian prime minister Dylan Valette, and future United States vice president Eliot Scott. Of course we also have the future president, Armani Parker, and his fiancée, Lily Strobe." She made eye contact with Roselle, half-smirking.
Roselle sat there with a knot in her gut. She was the only person that Grandma Scott hadn't called upon yet. Was she going to do something horrible to her because she wasn't going along with her plan?
"Last, but certainly not the least," the old woman continued. "We have the most valuable guest at the table. The gorgeous and talented Roselle Reyes, whose bloom, beauty, and elegance truly does live up to her name." She put her hand over her heart. "The best woman my dearest Dylan has ever been with."
The entire room applauded, and Roselle twisted her head around frantically. She forced a smile and gritted her teeth, but she was stiff and unnerved.
'So that was your angle,' Roselle thought to herself.
"Without further ado, let's enjoy this Thanksgiving together as one big family," Grandma Scott finished.
Servers came from behind the kitchen to deliver plates to all the guests. Roselle's table was served first. Specifically, SHE was served first. So was Michelle. Then Armani, Dylan, and Eliot. Lily was served last.
"So Roselle," Lily said. "I never knew you were so close with Grandma Scott."
Roselle had all the cards, but the question was, did she want to play them, or did she want to turn the other cheek? "Well, we're not that close. We only had one conversation."
"No, don't be modest. I get it. She came from humble beginnings too. Maybe that's why the two of you got along so well."
"Lily," Armani said, his tone deep and direct with warning.
"Did you just talk smack about my grandma?" Eliot asked, now joining the intense conversation as well.
"Uh, I love this turkey," Michelle remarked. "It's so juicy . . ."
"Super juicy," Dylan swiftly joined in, sweating mildly. He took a bite. "Mmm, wouldn't you like a piece, Ro?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult Grandma Scott," Lily said. "If she prefers a woman like Roselle for Dylan then I respect her decision."
"What?" Roselle asked. "If you have something to say to me, say it."
Lily batted her eyes and pouted. "Why, whatever do you mean, Ro?"
"Roselle," Grandma Scott walked up, giving her a hug. "I'm so glad you could make it. Can you come with me in the hall for a moment? There's something I want to give you.
The old woman whisked her away, leaving Lily's glares to be prevalent once more.
* * *
"It was so polite of you to finally accept my invitation," Grandma Scott said, sipping her tea.
"It's not like I had much of a choice." Roselle double-took at the woman's beverage. "Weren't you just drinking wine a moment ago? Do you always drink tea?"
"Only when I'm involved in some form of political manipulation, which is most nights." She consumed another gulp. "It helps calm the nerves. I suggest you do the same. I hear that you shake a lot. Are you a rose, or a leaf?"
"What do you want?"
"I want to know how you're doing on our little mission. I set everything up for you quite well. I can feel Lily cracking. She's completely losing her self-esteem. You know what's missing?"
"What?"
"You, dear. You've got the upper hand. Act like it. Make her jealous. Make her suffer for breaking my baby's heart." She took a silver necklace in the shape of a ladybug off, and put it around Roselle's neck. "This was a family heirloom that my grandmother gave to my mother, and my mother gave to me."
"You're . . . you're trusting me with a family heirloom?"
"Oh, heavens no. This is just a replica. The real one is at home. Lily doesn't know that though."
She sighed.
"What? You aren't doing anything, so I have to take matters into my own hands."
"I'm not playing this game anymore, Grandma."
"We'll see about that."
* * *
Roselle went back to her table, desperate to take Michelle to the bathroom so they could have another sisterly pep-talk. When she arrived however, she wasn't there. Neither was Armani.
"Where did Michelle go?" she asked.
"Bathroom," Dylan said. He looked down at her chest and let out a gasp. "Is that Grandma's heirloom?"
"Even the family heirloom?!" Shouted Lily. She gained traction of the whole restaurant, who stopped their own conversations to gawk at her. She gawked at them back, and they quickly went back to minding their own businesses.
"Yeah, whatever," said Roselle. "Where's the bathroom?"
"The only one that's working is on the third floor. There's an elevator."
* * *
Roselle rushed to the elevator and hopped in once it opened. She just had to keep in her nerves until she reached the third floor.
The elevator reached floor two, and there was Armani who smiled at her as he walked in. She smiled back, but it was more like she was spreading her mouth across her face than actually smiling.
'We're almost at floor three', she told herself.
The elevator rose, and then it stopped. Finally, they were on the third floor.
. . .
. . .
Wait, why was the door not opening?